You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.

The MPA said it fully supported Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair and would continue to work with him.

But the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have called for Sir Ian to resign.

Nick Clegg, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman, said: "This guilty verdict makes it unavoidable that Ian Blair should take responsibility on behalf of his whole organisation and resign."

'Isolated breach'

During the trial, Clare Montgomery QC, prosecuting, told the jury that Scotland Yard commanders had made a string of errors on 22 July that culminated in an unwarranted risk to the public and ultimately the death of Mr de Menezes.

Sir Ian had warned before the trial began that a guilty verdict would have profound effects on policing.

He said officers would be left in a difficult position of not being able to use their judgement in emergency situations, out of fear of breaking the law.

After the verdict was delivered, Mr Justice Henriques said: "This was very much an isolated breach brought about by quite extraordinary circumstances.

"One person died and many others were placed in potential danger."

In deciding on a penalty, the judge said he was aware that a heavy fine would result in a loss to the public purse and a reduction in essential policing.

Failures

The operation began when detectives investigating the failed suicide bombings of the previous day linked one of the suspects, Hussain Osman, to a block of flats in south London.

Mr de Menezes also lived in the block, and when he left home at 0930 BST, surveillance officers were unsure if he was their target.

Ms Montgomery told the court the situation had worsened because senior officers failed to keep to their own agreed plan, while firearms teams were both poorly briefed and in the wrong locations.

This meant that it became impossible to effectively stop the suspected suicide bomber before he boarded a bus and headed for the underground system.

The Met denied this, saying its commanders and officers on the ground did all they could to apprehend the bombers and minimise the risks to the public.

The trial and investigation is estimated to have cost around £3.5 million in public money.

Speaking as an Englishman, who has heard this news all day. And also spoken to many other people, in passing, to see what they think.

From my opinion and what I have heard : -We think it stinks that such a brutal murder of an innocent young lad can be undertaken without the copper who shot, and colleagues involved being directly prosecuted for murder or manslaughter.

We think that it is a gross insult that one of the only kind of trials available is an "health and safety at work" inquiry. The kind of inquiry which would happen if a scaffolding collapses at a factory causing ACCIDENTAL death or injury.

I think that this limited inquiry has been hugely influenced by politicians, leading to much vital evidence not being presented.

Everyone thinks that it is shameful that nobody appears to want to take any blame for it, or that nobody senior has resigned.